Beverage insulating device

ABSTRACT

A detachable and interchangeable beverage insulation device that may contain a plurality of beverage containers. The beverage insulation device may include a first beverage insulator and at least a second beverage insulator. The plurality of beverage insulators may be substantially hollow and may contain a first and second beverage container. The first and second beverage insulators may be detachable and interchangeable to connect one to another, and to connect accessories.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/758,062, filed Jan. 29, 2013, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beverage insulating device and, moreparticularly, to a beverage insulating device that insulates more thanone beverage at a time.

A Koozie is a fabric or foam device that is designed to insulate abeverage container. The Koozie is only a single beverage insulatedcooler, so the user may only have access to one beverage container at atime. Various types of insulating coolers and holders are currentlyavailable on the market; however, the insulating coolers available areneither detachable nor interchangeable and therefore limit access to asingle beverage per insulated cooler or holder.

As can be seen, there is a need for a beverage insulating device thatmay carry and insulate more than one beverage at a time while allowingeasy access to each beverage, and providing the user withinterchangeable accessories to maximize the beverage coolers efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage insulation devicecomprises: a plurality of beverage insulators comprising an insulatingfoam and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein theplurality of beverage insulators is substantially hollow forming anopening at the top and forming a top rim portion, wherein the pluralityof beverage insulators comprises a first beverage insulator and at leastone second beverage insulator, wherein the first beverage insulatorcomprises a first connecting component at the top rim portion, whereinthe second beverage insulator comprises a second connecting component atthe bottom, wherein the first connecting component and the secondconnecting component are releasably attachable.

In another aspect of the present invention, a beverage insulation devicecomprises: a beverage insulator comprising a stretchable insulatingmaterial and having a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein thebeverage insulator is substantially hollow forming an opening at the topand forming a top rim portion, wherein the beverage insulator comprisesa first attachment component at the bottom and a second attachmentcomponent at the top.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use whilein a double container configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention shown in use whilein the double container configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective exploded view of the present inventionillustrating a coupling method;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the present inventionillustrating the coupling method of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the present invention along line 5-5 in FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG.6, illustrating the carrier;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodimentFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG.9, illustrating the end cap;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a top exploded perspective view of the alternate embodimentFIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the alternate embodiment of FIG.11, illustrating the travel cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a beverageinsulation device that may contain a plurality of beverage containers.The beverage insulation device may include a first beverage insulatorand at least a second beverage insulator. The first and second beverageinsulators may be substantially hollow and may contain a first and asecond beverage container. The first and second beverage insulators maybe detachable from one another and interchangeable with otheraccessories.

The present invention may be a detachable double beverage insulatedcooler. The present invention may improve upon the single beverageinsulated cooler because the present invention may carry and insulatemore than one beverage at a time, such as two or more beverages. Thepresent invention also facilitate access to the bottom beveragecontainer due to threaded portions, making the present invention adetachable insulated beverage cooler. The present invention provides aperson with at least two beverages which may be either consumed by theuser or shared with others. The present invention may keep beveragescolder for longer periods of time than current marketed Koozies becausethe top beverage sits on a cold beverage container that acts as acooler, and the bottom beverage container is kept cold because it may besurrounded by NBR foam insulation on the bottom and the sidewalls, and acold beverage is situated on the top of the bottom beverage container.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 14, the present invention may include abeverage insulation device. The beverage insulation device may include afirst beverage insulator 12 and a second beverage insulator 10. Thebeverage insulators 10, 12 may be made of insulating foam. The beverageinsulators 10, 12 may be substantially hollow forming an opening at thetop so that a beverage container 26 may fit within the beverageinsulators 10, 12. In certain embodiments, the beverage container 26 maybe a twelve ounce container. The beverage insulator's 10, 12 opening mayhave a smaller circumference than the beverage container 16 so that thebeverage container may fit snuggly within the beverage insulators 10,12.

The first beverage insulator 12 of the present invention may include atop, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall 28. The first beverage insulator12 may be substantially hollow, forming an opening at the top andthereby forming a top rim portion 36. The top rim portion 36 may includea first connecting component, including, but not limited to, a threadedportion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or similar connectingcomponents. For example, the top rim portion 36 may be a female threadedinsert 14. In certain embodiments, the first beverage insulator 12 mayinclude a closed bottom wall 32 formed at the bottom. The closed bottomwall 32 may include a bottom hole 18, which may be near the center. Abeverage container 26 may fit within the substantially hollow firstbeverage insulator 12.

The second beverage insulator 10 of the present invention may include atop, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall 30. The second beverage insulator10 may be substantially hollow, forming an opening at the top andthereby forming a top rim portion 36. In certain embodiments, the bottomof the second beverage insulator 10 may include a bottom wall 34 or anopening with a bottom rim portion 38. The bottom rim portion 38 mayinclude a second connecting component, including, but not limited to athreaded portion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or anyconnecting components. For example, the bottom rim portion 38 may be amale threaded insert 16. In certain embodiments, the second beverageinsulator 12 may further include a third connecting component, such as athreaded portion, clips, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, or the like, atthe top rim portion 36. For example, the top rim portion 36 may be afemale threaded portion 14. A beverage container 26 may fit within thesubstantially hollow second beverage insulator 10.

The first connecting component of the first beverage insulator 12 andthe second connecting component of the second beverage insulator 10 maybe releasably connectable. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the malethreaded insert 16 of the second beverage insulator 10 may be screwedinto the female threaded insert 14 of the first beverage insulator 12.Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a user may insert a beveragecontainer 26 in the first beverage insulator 12, insert another beveragecontainer 26 in the second beverage insulator 10 and screw theinsulators 10, 12 together into one unit.

In certain embodiments, the user may empty the contents from thebeverage container located in the second beverage insulator 10; the usermay remove the full beverage container out of the first beverageinsulator 12; screw the second beverage insulator with the emptybeverage container back onto the empty first insulator; push the emptybeverage container in the second beverage insulator 10 down to the firstbeverage insulator using the full beverage container.

The beverage insulation device of the present invention may include aplurality of beverage insulators. As mentioned above, the secondbeverage insulator 10 may include a female threaded portion 14 at thetop rim portion 36; therefore, a third beverage insulator having thesame components as the second beverage insulator 10 may be detached,attached, or interchanged to connect to the second beverage insulator10. A desired amount of the plurality of beverage insulators may beinterchanged and connected together.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a carrierassembly. The carrier assembly 20 may include a top surface and a bottomsurface. The top surface may include a strap or handle 22 for carryingpurposes. The bottom surface may include at least one carrier connectingcomponent 24. The carrier connecting component 24 may attach to theconnecting components on the tops of either the beverage insulators 10,12. Since the beverage insulators 10, 12 may be detached andinterchanged to connect to the carrier assembly 20, multiple beverageinsulators 10, 12 may be transported at the same time and kept cold.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include an end cap 40,which may be a chiller assembly. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11,the end cap 40 may be a detachable and interchangeable accessory thatscrews onto the bottom of the second beverage insulator 10. Since thebeverage insulators 10, 12 may be detached and interchanged to connectwith the end cap 40, multiple beverage insulators 10, 12 may betransported at the same time on ice, located within a cavity 42 in theend cap 40; below the beverage insulator(s) 10, 12.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a travel cap44 assembly that is substantially hollow. As illustrated in FIGS. 12through 14, the travel cap 44 may be a detachable and interchangeableaccessory that screws onto the top portion of the first or secondbeverage insulator 10, 12. Since the beverage insulators 10, 12 may bedetached and interchanged to connect to the travel cap 44, multiplebeverage insulators 10, 12 may be transported at the same time on ice,located within the travel cap 44; above the beverage insulator(s) 10,12.

The present invention may contain multiple beverage containers,providing easy access to those beverage containers using the connectingmechanism mentioned above, and the present invention may be detachableand interchangeable with other connecting accessories, allowing the userto share a beverage that is already in a beverage insulator. In certainembodiments, the present invention may further allow for additionalattachments and or accessories since the first beverage insulator 10 mayinclude an attachment component on the top, and the second beverageinsulator 12 may include an attachment component on the top and bottom.When utilizing the appropriate connecting components, a user may stackone cold beverage container after another or utilize accessories to haveice above or below a beverage container 26.

The present invention may allow for easy insertion and extraction of abeverage container 26 because of the unique design. The presentinvention may be designed to create less resistance at the top portionof the first beverage insulator and both portions (top and bottom), ofthe second beverage insulator 12 because of the screw mechanism. Thescrew mechanism creates a design that reduces the suction that is formedwhen pushing a beverage container into a beverage insulator 10, 12. Thepresent invention may provide the user with additional grip due to itsunique design. Since the present invention design may provide a grip, itmay create an optimized location to place the user's hand, making iteasier to hold. Further, the present invention may be attached andinterchanged with a cooler using the carrier assembly mentioned above.

To assemble the present invention, tubular foam may be manufactured. Theethylene vinyl acetate, nitrile butadiene rubber, neoprene, or any openor closed cell foam may be used to build the tubular foam piece. Thefoam may be cut to ten centimeters in height and eight and a halfcentimeters in diameter for the first beverage insulator 12. The secondbeverage 10 insulator may be cut to thirteen centimeters in height andeight and a half centimeters in diameter. The first beverage insulator12 may use a small piece, approximately one half of a centimeter inheight and six and a half centimeters in diameter and may be used as thebottom wall 32 that the beverage container 26 may be placed on, insidethe tubular foam. The thickness of the tubular foam may be onecentimeter or between approximately nine and ten millimeters. Thediameter of the plastic screw mechanism may be approximately eight andsix tenths centimeters, which may allow for an easy insertion ofbeverage containers. Both of the female parts of the plastic screwadapter mechanism may be one centimeter in height and may be glued tothe tubular foam; however, any type of adhesive material may attach theplastic screw mechanism to the inside of the bottom of the beverageinsulators and the top the beverage insulators. The finished beverageinsulator 10, 12 may weigh approximately a quarter of a pound or fourounces.

The second beverage insulator 12 may include a two centimeter maleplastic screw mechanism located on the bottom rim portion to connectwith the first insulator. One centimeter of the screw mechanism may belocated within the tubular foam to be secured using adhesive, and onecentimeter of the screw mechanism may protrude from the bottom rimportion to facilitate the connection. The male plastic mechanism on thesecond beverage insulator may be about eight and a half centimeters indiameter.

In alternative embodiments, the present invention may be used totransport anything that may fit inside its interior space. The presentinvention may be used in the medical field to keep fluids hot or cold;for example, some vaccinations must be kept cool and easy to transport.The present invention may be used in any application where being able tostack objects is desired. The present invention may be used as part of agame for stacking and un-stacking objects. The present invention may beused similarly as cones for marking purposes within sports games orpractices.

The connecting components, such as the screw mechanisms, may be made ofa metal, plastic, foam, ceramic, or anything allowing for suchmechanism. For example, the screw mechanisms may be made of polyethyleneterephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or anysimilar, suitable material. The connecting components may act as anadapter. The foam may be replaced using any type of insulating material.The present invention may be made from aluminum, stainless steel, anytype of plastic, wood, any type of metal, glass, acrylic, ceramic, orclay. The plastic screw mechanism may be replaced with anything thatconnects the two beverage insulators and that allows for detachment. Thefollowing may be used within the present invention to ensure that thetwo beverage insulators are held together: hook and loop fasteners,buttons, zippers, snap buttons, twist-and-snaps, any type ofpressure-based mechanism (such as a larger piece of material pushed intoa smaller one), any metal fasteners, any plastic fasteners, lengths ofrope, or using any material that may be used to wrap around the presentinvention in a way that it is tight enough to hold the two beverageinsulators.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage insulation device comprising: aplurality of beverage insulators comprising an insulating foam andhaving a top, a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the plurality ofbeverage insulators is substantially hollow forming an opening at thetop and forming a top rim portion, wherein the plurality of beverageinsulators comprises a first beverage insulator and at least one secondbeverage insulator, wherein the first beverage insulator comprises afirst connecting component at the top rim portion, wherein the secondbeverage insulator comprises a second connecting component at thebottom, wherein the first connecting component and the second connectingcomponent are releasably attachable.
 2. The beverage insulation deviceof claim 1, wherein the second beverage container comprises a thirdconnecting component at the top rim portion releasably attachable to athird beverage container comprising the same components as the secondbeverage container.
 3. The beverage insulation device of claim 2,wherein the connecting components comprise threaded portions.
 4. Thebeverage insulation device of claim 1, wherein a circumference of theopenings of the plurality of beverage insulators is smaller than acircumference of a twelve ounce beverage container.
 5. The beverageinsulation device of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the first beverageinsulator comprises a closed bottom wall.
 6. The beverage insulationdevice of claim 5, wherein a hole is formed in a surface of the closedbottom wall.
 7. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, furthercomprising an end cap comprising a cavity portion, wherein the end capis removably attachable to at least one of the plurality of beverageinsulators.
 8. The beverage insulation device of claim 1, furthercomprising a travel cap comprising a hollow body wherein the travel capis removably attachable to at least one of the plurality of beverageinsulators.
 9. A beverage insulation device comprising: a beverageinsulator comprising a stretchable insulating material and having a top,a bottom, and a rounded sidewall, wherein the beverage insulator issubstantially hollow forming an opening at the top and forming a top rimportion, wherein the beverage insulator comprises a first attachmentcomponent at the bottom and a second attachment component at the top rimportion.
 10. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein thefirst attachment component and the second attachment component compriseat least one of a male threaded portion and a female threaded portion.11. A plurality of beverage insulation devices of claim 9, wherein theplurality of beverage insulation devices are releasably attachable toone another.
 12. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein acircumference of the beverage insulator opening is smaller than acircumference of a twelve ounce beverage container.
 13. The beverageinsulation device of claim 9, wherein the bottom of the beverageinsulator comprises a closed bottom wall.
 14. The beverage insulationdevice of claim 13, wherein a hole is formed in a surface of the closedbottom wall.
 15. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, wherein thestretchable insulating material is foam.
 16. The beverage insulationdevice of claim 9, further comprising an end cap comprising a cavityportion, wherein the end cap is removably attachable to the beverageinsulator.
 17. The beverage insulation device of claim 9, furthercomprising a travel cap comprising a hollow body, wherein the travel capis removably attachable to the beverage insulator.